Puja Fund News

Offering robes to the Buddha statue at the Mahabodhi Stupa, Bodhgaya, India. Photo by Bill Kane.

Every month on the full moon as well as on all four great Buddha multiplying days, the Puja Fund sponsors a new set of robes made of high quality material for the precious Buddha statue inside the Mahabodhi Stupa in Bodhgaya, India. Root Institute kindly organizes this every month.

Any sentient being who, during the period of my teachings, makes charity well (even if the material is the size of a hair), For 80,000 eons there will be great results of great enjoyment:No pain, no disease, and enjoyment of happiness.Like that, one will be enriched with the desirable things.At the end, you can actually achieve the result: the peerless cessation and completion (enlightenment).

Verse of OfferingRobes

By offering these soft, light, divine clothesWith indestructible faith inThose who have attained the adamantine holy body,May I also achieve the vajra holy body.

Various garments that are strong like a bow string and extremely fine,Whoever touches them experiences bliss,To train my mind, I offer these precious, quality clothesMay I be adorned by the pure robes of patience.

Please rejoice in this monthly offering. This is something amazing to rejoice in, to mentally offer yourself, dedicate toward, and participate in by donating any amount.

You can learn more about the beneficial prayers, practices, and pujas sponsored by the Puja Fund, or about FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity.

57,232 animals were liberated by the Sangha at Kachoe Dechen Ling in California, and Buddha Amitabha Pure Land in Washington State. These animals were offered extensive prayers and blessed water before being released. Additionally, the Kangyur was recited by Drati Khagten; and Lama Zopa Rinpoche led extensive Medicine Buddha Puja at Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore, four mandala offering pujas to Tara, and later on led Lama Chöpa Tsog with 3,000 tsog offerings dedicated toKhadro-la’s health and long life. During Lama Chöpa Rinpoche movingly spoke extensively about the incredible qualities ofKhadro-la, and explained some of her extraordinary activities.

This is one way that the Puja Fund is able to benefit our kind teachers. Thanks to all for continued support to this fund, please rejoice in these practices done for Khadro-la’s long life and may she remain among us for a very, very long time.

You can learn more about the beneficial prayers, practices, and pujas sponsored by the Puja Fund, or about FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity.

Every month on the Tibetan 8th day the Puja Fund sponsors all the monks of Sera Mey Monastery to offer the extensive Medicine Buddha puja composed by the Fifth Dalai Lama dedicated FPMT centers, projects, services; all students who are ill or having life obstacles; benefactors of the Puja Fund, and to all beings.

The Puja Fund offers a small money offering, tea, and bread to each of the approximately 2,000 monks performing the puja as well as the cost of light offerings and torma offerings.

About Medicine Buddha Lama Zopa Rinpoche has said:

The Medicine Buddha encompasses all the buddhas. This means that when we practice the seven-limb prayer and make offerings with the seven limbs, we receive the same merit as we would if we had made offerings to all the buddhas. Similarly, when we recite the mantra of Medicine Buddha, we collect unbelievable merit just as when we offer the seven-limb practice to Medicine Buddha.

To recite the Medicine Buddha mantra brings inconceivable merit. Manjushri requested the eight tathagatas (Guru Shakyamuni Buddha and the seven Medicine Buddhas) to reveal a special mantra that would make the prayers they (the eight tathagatas) made in the past (prayers to be able to actualize the happiness of sentient beings by attaining the path to enlightenment and pacifying various problems, to be able to see all the buddhas, and for all wishes to be quickly realized) to quickly come to pass, especially for those sentient beings born in the time of the five degenerations who have small merit and who are possessed and overwhelmed by various diseases and spirit harms.

Please rejoice in this monthly offering that brings so much benefit to the entire FPMT organization. Every Tibetan 8th day, please remember that this puja is happening and you can mentally join in. This is something amazing to rejoice in, to mentally offer and dedicate toward, and also something you can contribute to by donating any amount.

You can learn more about the beneficial prayers, practices, and pujas sponsored by the Puja Fund, or about FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity.

Lhabab Duchen, one of the four great holy days of the Buddhist calendar when merit is multiplied by 100 million times, takes place this year on Wednesday, October 31.

On this day, up to 15,650 Sangha are sponsored through the FPMT Puja Fund to offer specific pujas and engage in particular practices selected by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way, as well as all beings.

The monks of Sera Je Monastery offering puja.

Since merit is multiplied on this day, you can imagine that each monk is offering every puja or engaging in every practice 100 million times. The following will be sponsored on Lhabab Duchen this year:

Recitation of thePrajnaparamita(three versions) by 650 monks of Gyurme Tantric College

Offering of white wash and four giant saffron flower petals and new umbrellas will be made to Bouddhanath stupa’s and Swayambunath stupa’s pinnacles in Nepal

Offering of a new set of robes of very precious material will be offered to the Buddha inside the Bodhgaya Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya, India

Offering of gold will be offered to the holy body of the Jowo Buddha in Lhasa’s Jokang, Tibet

How to Participate

Take a few moments on Lhabab Duchen to join in with prayer in your mind and rejoice that thousands of ordained Sangha are engaged at all of the above at the exact same time and this merit is multiplied 100 million times.

Take a few moments on Lhabab Duchen to rejoice in some of the incredible offerings happening around the world.

Make an offering that goes toward covering the cost of these prayers, pujas, and offerings.

This goat and another, who were going to be killed, were liberated and the merit of this was dedicated to the long life of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Beings that would otherwise be killed and eaten as food are purchased for the sole purpose of liberating them.

In July, over 2.5 million living beings, including large and small fish, shellfish, and two goats, were liberated in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Nepal with dedications made for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s long life. These beings were taken around holy objects and blessed with mantras and mantra water before release.

In Singapore, at Amitabha Buddhist Center, Ven. Tenzin Drachom arranged the liberation of 2.5 million lives.

In Nepal, Tania Duratovic of Enlightenment for the Dear Animals joined Kopan Monastery in liberating two goats that would otherwise be killed. The two goats were later put on the Animal Liberation Sanctuary land to live out the rest of their lives. Lama Zopa Rinpoche named the two goats Conventional Bodhichitta and Ultimate Bodhichitta.

Animal liberation is a specific practice done for animals which would otherwise be killed. The practice involves taking the animals-in-danger around holy objects to leave positive imprints in their minds, reciting mantras for them, blessing water to sprinkle onto their bodies, and then releasing them. This differs from general animal blessings which involve blessing any animal with mantras or a holy object. Animal blessings are, of course, wonderful to do for animals, but this is not what is meant by “animal liberations.”

Some blessed beings being returned to the water in Hong Kong after the liberation practices.

Please rejoice that over 2.5 million sentient beings received blessings and kindness from students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche– those offering the practices as well as those who have donated to the Animal Liberation Fund. All the merit of animal liberations is dedicated to the long life of Lama Zopa Rinpoche—something worth rejoicing in as well!

“Where there is a mind, there are feelings such as pain, pleasure, and joy. No sentient being wants pain; instead all want happiness. Since we all share these feelings at some basic level, we as rational human beings have an obligation to contribute in whatever way we can to the happiness of other species and try our best to relieve their fears and sufferings.” — His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Twenty-three years ago, Lama Zopa Rinpoche established the Puja Fund as a way to sponsor ongoing prayers and practices dedicated to the success and longevity of the entire FPMT organization. One puja that Rinpoche advised as particularly important for FPMT, due to the organization’s close connection with the deity Hayagriva, is the Extensive Most Secret Hayagriva Puja.

Every month, on the Tibetan 29thday, the Puja Fund sponsors about 40 of the most senior monks of Sera Je Monastery, who specialize in the practice of Most Secret Hayagriva, to offer the Extensive Most Secret Hayagriva Puja. This is an all-day puja with an elaborate torma offering and extensive prayers and meditation.

The Puja Fund makes a small offering to the 40 monks who perform the puja, sponsors tea, and covers the cost of extensive torma offerings for the puja. In this way, the puja not only benefits all FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way; it also benefits the monks of Sera Je Monastery.

Please rejoice that this powerful puja is done every month for the entire FPMT organization. All are welcome to participate in this monthly puja by offering any amount to the FPMT Puja Fund.

You can learn more about the beneficial prayers, practices, and pujas sponsored by the Puja Fund, or about FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity.

Each year on Chokhor Duchen, one of the four great holy days of the Tibetan Buddhist calendar, The Puja Fund sponsors pujas and offerings all over the world dedicated to the success of the entire FPMT organization. This year Chokhor Duchen takes place on Monday, July 16. The practices are done by up to 15,650 ordained Sangha and offerings are made to each in appreciation of their time and service. On these holy days the merit of any action is multiplied by 100 million — so this is not only an incredible support to the individual monks and nuns, it also is a way to invest in the monasteries and nunneries where the pujas and practices are offered.

Recently Lama Zopa Rinpoche commented, “Remember, all these monks are disciples of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, so if you have received teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, because all these monks are disciples of the same guru, for you they are the pores of the guru.

“‘Pores of the guru’ does not only refer to the body, it refers to the disciples of the same guru. It also refers to the neighbors of the guru and, if the guru is lay, it refers to the guru’s husband, wife and children as well, and even the guru’s horse, dog, and belongings. ‘The guru’s pores’ refers to all these things.

“So think: ‘I am making offerings to the same guru’s pores.’ Then, no matter how many monks there are, no matter how much money-offering you make, or offerings of tea, bread, or lunch, you will get the same merit as actually having offered to numberless Buddhas, Dharma, and Sangha. You collect the same merit as having made offerings to them.

“It’s unbelievable, unbelievable, unbelievable!”

Robes offered to the Shakyamuni Buddha statue at the Mahabodhi Stupa in Bodhgaya, India, through the Puja Fund on every Buddha holy day. Photo by Andy Melnic.

All are welcome to participate in these incredible offerings including: Recitation of the Prajnaparamita (short, medium and long versions) by the monks of Gyurme Tantric College, recitation of the entire Kangyur by the nuns of Kopan Nunnery, extensive offerings for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus and holy objects in India and Tibet, among many other virtuous activities, prayers and pujas which were advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Even offering one dollar to the Puja Fund for Chokhor Duchen (July 16) means that you are offering toward all of the activities being sponsored. Additionally, all are welcome to participate by rejoicing in the many pujas, practices, and offerings which will be offered.

The Puja Fund was established by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to provide resources for continuous pujas dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way. You can learn more about the Puja Fund, or FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity.

Saka Dawa is the most important Tibetan Buddhist festival day, celebrating Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinirvana. Buddhists around the world engage in many auspicious and merit-making activities such as sponsoring or engaging in beneficial pujas, practices, and prayers; and making extensive offerings to teachers, holy objects, and auspicious charitable activities. This year, Saka Dawa takes place on May 29.

Offerings of white wash, four giant saffron flower petals and the best quality cloth to the umbrellas at the pinnacles are made to the Boudhanath and Swayambunath stupas in Nepal.

The FPMT Puja Fund was established so that pujas and prayers, offered by as many as 15,650 ordained Sangha, would continuously be sponsored for the benefit of the entire FPMT organization. On Buddha Multiplying Days, such as Saka Dawa, when karmic results are multiplied by one hundred million, the Puja Fund offers US$10,000 toward an extensive array of pujas and practices. This is a very auspicious way for FPMT to support the Sangha at various monasteries and nunneries in Nepal and India. Providing prayer services such as these allow the ordained Sangha to benefit others while also supporting themselves.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Sangha at Kopan Monastery offering puja.

Additionally, the Puja Fund makes offerings to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus; to over 15,000 Sangha from Sera Je and Sera Mey Monasteries; Gaden Jangtse and Shartse Monasteries; Drepung Gomang, Loseling, and Deyang Monasteries; Gyurme and Gyuto Tantric Colleges; as well as Kopan Monastery and Nunnery; to Sangha at International Mahayana Institute (IMI) communities; and holy objects in Nepal, India, and Tibet.

This is an incredible day of celebration and offerings when skies of merit is created for the entire FPMT organization including all centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way, as well as all beings.

All are welcome to participate in this beneficial celebration by remembering any of these practices and offerings happening around the world and then mentally offering this oneself and/or rejoicing. You can also make a financial contribution to the many prayers, practices, and offerings sponsored by the FPMT Puja Fund. You can participate by offering even one dollar.

In terms of personal practice, Lama Zopa Rinoche advises that any beneficial practices can be done. In particular, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has recommended:

Of course, any other meritorious activities often advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche are also good to do on these days, such as recitation of the Sanghata Sutra, the Sutra of Golden Light, etc., with extensive dedications. These texts are available on our sutras page.

The Puja Fundwas established by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to provide resources for continuous pujas dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way.

The Fifteen Days of Miracles began on the first day of the Tibetan new year (Losar, February 16) and continues until March 1. This period commemorates the special time when Guru Shakyamuni Buddha showed many powers. All fifteen days are merit-multiplying days, when the merit of virtuous actions performed on these days is multiplied by 100 million. The Puja Fund makes offerings onBuddha Multiplying Days and sponsors Sangha to offer particular prayers and pujas. We invite you to rejoice in these activities which are dedicated to overcoming obstacles and creating merit for the entire FPMT organization.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has explained that the karma of group practice is more powerful than individual practice. “The karma of one ordained Sangha reciting a sutra in a temple or room alone, compared to reciting a sutra with all the assembly of Sangha present, the latter one—reciting a sutra with all the Sangha—is much more powerful…. The more people there are supporting the practice, the more powerful it becomes…. When the karma is more powerful, the result comes more quickly.”

This year, Losar fell on February 16. The Fifteen Days of Miracles continue through March 1. During this time the following offerings, practices and pujas are being sponsored by the FPMT Puja Fund on behalf of all the donors and the whole FPMT family. Please take a moment to rejoice in these incredible offerings!

Offerings are made to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus.

Offerings are made to over 15,650 ordained Sangha including IMI communities around the world.

Bouddhanath and Swayambunath stupas are offered white wash and four giant saffron flower petals and new umbrellas to the stupas’ pinnacles.

Buddha inside the Bodhgaya Mahabodhi temple is offered a new set of robes of the most precious material.

A full set of robes is offered to all FPMT geshes and resident teachers.

Printing of the Sutra of Golden Light 6 times,AryaSanghata Sutra 10 times, Vajra Cutter Sutra 200 times, and the Amitayus Long Life Sutra 20 times is offered by IMI Sangha.

100 Indian rupees and lunch was offered to 1,200 Sangha at the Monlam celebration at Kopan Monastery, Nepal.

Even just remembering these offerings, pujas, and practices and rejoicing in them brings so much merit. Thanks to all for being part of this incredible list of offerings and activities which are dedicated to all beings.

Lhabab Duchen, one of the four great holy days of the Buddhist calendar when merit is multiplied by 100 million times, takes place this year on Friday, November 10. Don’t miss the opportunity to rejoice in an incredible array of beneficial activities being sponsored by the Puja Fund and offered by up to 15,650 Sangha.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche recently commented: “When doing any puja think: I am doing this puja for any sentient being who needs this. So motivate for everyone, not for yourself, not for money. Then doing the puja becomes Dharma, pure motivation, because of the thought to benefit others. Then dedicate it for any people who are dying, sick, or need this puja done for them. Think of all those people who need so much prayer. In this same way whatever practice you do, try to do it for the benefit of sentient beings. Not just recite prayer.”

Please remember that on November 10 the following will be happening around the world and dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way, as well as all beings:

On full moons and during Sakadawa the Puja Fund sponsors special offerings to the Jowo Buddha Statue in Tibet. Gold is offered to the statue’s face (and will soon be offered to the whole body on Buddha days) and robes are offered to the body. The cost of the precious robes is US$28 and the cost of offering gold to the whole body is approximately US$1,528.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has indicated that he wants this offering to continue as long as possible, for many lifetimes.

Also said to have been blessed by Shakyamuni Buddha himself (making it approximately 2,500 years old), the Jowo Buddha statue is one of the most sacred statues in all of Tibet. Originally crafted in India, the Jowo was brought to China, and then brought to Tibet by the daughter of the Chinese emperor, Princess Wenchen Kongjo, upon her marriage to Songsten Gampo. The Jowo Buddha statue resides in the central chapel of the Jokhang, among the most holy temples in Lhasa.

Gold offered to Jowo Buddha statue.

About the power of statues of Buddha, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has said, “The benefit we get each time we see a statue of Buddha, a picture of Buddha, or a stupa is like the limitless sky. It causes us to achieve all the realizations from guru devotion up to enlightenment and to achieve all the numberless qualities of the Buddha’s holy body, speech and mind.”

Please rejoice in this ongoing offering which will continue as long as possible to fulfill Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s wishes.

Some of the 15,650 Sangha who will be doing prayers on Chokhor Duchen.

Each year on Chokhor Duchen, one of the four great holy days of the Tibetan Buddhist calendar, The Puja Fund sponsors pujas and offerings all over the world dedicated to success of the entire FPMT organization. The practices are offered by up to 15,650 monks and nuns. This year Chokhor Duchen takes place on Thursday, July 27.

Also known as the Festival of Turning the Wheel of Dharma, Chokhor Duchen commemorates the anniversary upon which Shakyamuni Buddha first began teaching the Dharma. For seven weeks after his enlightenment, the Buddha did not teach. After this period, Indra and Brahma offered a Dharmachakra and a conch shell and requested Shakyamuni to teach. Accepting, Buddha Shakyamuni turned the Wheel of Dharma for the first time at Sarnath by teaching on the four noble truths.

On Chokhor Duchen the Puja Fund will sponsor: Recitation of the Prajnaparamita (short, medium and long versions) by the monks of Gyurme Tantric College, recitation of the entire Kangyur by the nuns of Kopan Nunnery, extensive offerings for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus and holy objects in India and Tibet, among many other virtuous activities, prayers and pujas which were advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

You are welcome to participate in these offerings which take place every holy Buddha day, and rejoice that 15,650 monks and nuns will be doing these prayers, remembering that they are all “pores of the guru” and thus extensions of our teachers.

If you would like to make a donation toward the meritorious activities being sponsored by the Puja Fund on Chokor Duchen, you can do so by offering any amount you are able.

The Puja Fund was established by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to provide resources for continuous pujas dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way. You can learn more about the Puja Fund, or FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity.

When others insult, rebuke and speak unpleasant words to us, although an intolerable pain arises like a thorn at the heart, if we comprehend the teachings then we can recognize the essenceless nature of these words which resemble an echo. So just as when an inanimate object is scolded, we will experience not the slightest mental turmoil.